Properties of acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene/polycarbonate blends with styrene–butadiene–styrene block copolymer

The importance of alloys and blends has increased gradually in the polymer industry so that the plastics industry has moved toward complex systems. The main reasons for making polymer blends are the strengthening and the economic aspects of the resultant product. In this study, I attempted to improve compatibility in a polymer blend composed of two normally incompatible constituents, namely, acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) and polycarbonate (PC), through the addition of a compatibilizer. The compatibilizing agent, styrene–butadiene–styrene block copolymer (SBS), was added to the polymer blend in ratios of 1, 5, and 10% with a twin‐screw extruder. The morphology and the compatibility of the mixtures were examined by scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Further, all three blends of ABS/PC/SBS were subjected to examination to obtain their yield and tensile strengths, elasticity modulus, percentage elongation, Izod impact strength, hardness, heat deflection temperature, Vicat softening point, and melt flow index. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 2521–2527, 2004     

Dynamically vulcanized acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene terpolymer/nitrile butadiene rubber blends compatibilized by chlorinated polyethylene

Thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) based on acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS)/nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) blends were prepared by dynamic vulcanization and then compatibilized by chlorinated polyethylene (CM). The effects of CM compatibilizer on the mechanical properties, Mullins effect, and morphological and dynamic mechanical properties of the TPVs were investigated systematically. Experimental results indicated that CM had an excellent compatibilization effect on the dynamically vulcanized ABS/NBR TPVs. Mullins effect results showed that the compatibilized ABS/NBR TPV had relatively lower internal friction loss than the ABS/NBR TPV, indicating the improvement of elasticity. Morphology studies showed that the fracture surfaces of ABS/CM/NBR TPVs were relatively smoother, indicating the improved elastic reversibility. DMA studies showed that the glass to rubber transition temperatures of ABS and NBR phases were slightly shifted toward each other with the incorporation of CM compatibilizer, which indicates the improvement of the compatibility. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40986.     

Structural morphology and properties of star styrene–isoprene–butadiene rubber and natural rubber/star styrene–butadiene rubber blends

Star styrene–isoprene–butadiene rubber (SIBR) was synthesized with a new kind of star anionic initiator made from naphthalene lithium and an SnCl₄ coupled agent. The relationship between the structure and properties of star SIBR was studied. Star block styrene–isoprene–butadiene rubber (SB‐SIBR), having low hysteresis, high road‐hugging, and excellent mechanical properties, was closer to meeting the overall performance requirements of ideal tire‐tread rubber according to a comparison of the morphology and various properties of SB‐SIBR with those of star random SIBR and natural rubber/star styrene–butadiene rubber blends. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 336–341, 2004     

Effects of processing parameters on the properties of microwave‐devulcanized ground tire rubber/polyethylene dynamically revulcanized blends

This work aimed to evaluate the effects of processing parameters on properties of dynamically revulcanized blends based on 60 wt % of devulcanized ground tire rubber (GTR) and 40 wt % of high density polyethylene (HDPE). Devulcanization of the GTR was carried out in a system comprised of a conventional microwave oven adapted with a motorized stirring system with speed control. The resulting devulcanized GTR contained 26 wt % soluble in toluene. It was processed with HDPE in a twin screw extruder to produce a dynamically revulcanized blend. Processing parameters such as screw speed and feeding mode were varied. Their effects were evaluated based on tensile, dynamic mechanical, thermal and rheological properties, as well as on morphology. The results show the importance of the processing parameters involved in the production of blends with dynamically revulcanized rubber phase in the extruder, and good match between the residence time of the rubber and its revulcanization kinetics. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43503.     

Dynamic mechanical properties of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene copolymer blends

Blends of polycarbonate (PC) and poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐butadiene‐co‐styrene) (ABS) with different compositions are characterized by means of dynamic mechanical measurements. The samples show phase separation. The shift in the temperatures of the main dynamic mechanical relaxation shown by the blend with respect to those of the pure components is attributed to the migration of oligomers present in the ABS toward the PC in the melt blending process. A comparison with other techniques (dielectric and calorimetric analysis) and the application of the Takayanagi three block model confirm this hypothesis. In all the studied blend compositions (ABS weight up to 28.6%) the PC appears as the matrix where a disperse phase of ABS is present. The scanning and transmission electron microscopy micrographs show that the size of the ABS particles increases when the proportion of ABS in the blend increases. The FTIR results indicate that the interaction between both components are nonpolar in nature and can be enhanced by the preparation procedure. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 1507–1516, 2002     

Properties of dynamically vulcanized ethylene–propylene–diene copolymer/polypropylene blends

In this study, vulcanized thermoplastic elastomers were produced through the formation of crosslinks with peroxide for different ratios of ethylene–propylene–diene copolymer to polypropylene. Mixing was performed with a twin‐screw extruder. Afterward, the yield, tensile strength, elastic modulus, elongation, Izod impact strength, hardness, melt flow index, Vicat softening point, heat deflection temperature, and density of the crosslinks were determined. The thermal transition temperatures and microstructure were determined with differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 3895–3902, 2007     

Mechanical properties of acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene copolymer/poly(l‐lactic acid) blends and their composites

As the material properties of acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene copolymer (ABS) have an excessively wide margin for applications in automobile console boxes, ABS partly replaced with poly(l ‐lactic acid) (PLA) may be used for the same purpose with improved ecofriendliness if the corresponding deterioration of the material properties is acceptable through the choice of appropriate additives. ABS composites with 30 wt % renewable components (PLA and cellulose pulp) were prepared by melt compounding, and the material properties were examined as a function of the additive content. The changes in the mechanical properties of the ABS/PLA blends were examined after the addition of cellulose pulp and two clays [Cloisite 25A (C25A) and sodium montmorillonite] as well as these two clays treated with bis(3‐triethoxysilylpropyl)tetrasulfide (TESPT). The heat distortion temperatures of the composites were measured as a function of the content of the TESPT‐treated C25A. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40329.     

Dielectric and mechanical properties of polystyrene/acrylonitrile–butadiene rubber blends

The dielectric and mechanical properties of polystyrene(PS)/acrylonitrile–butadiene rubber (NBR) blends were studied with the aim of improving the insulation properties of NBR. Compatibility investigations, performed with viscosity and dielectric methods and confirmed with the calculated heat of mixing, indicated that such blends were incompatible. To overcome the problem of phase separation between NBR and PS, we chose epoxidized soya bean oil to act as a compatibilizer and added 3% to the blends under investigation. This led to the conclusion that a sample containing 10% PS (either pure or scrap) possessed the most suitable electrical and mechanical properties. For this reason, the sample was chosen for studying the effect of the addition of three types of fillers (quartz, talc, and calcium carbonate) in increasing quantities (up to 80 phr) on the dielectric and mechanical properties. The variation of the dielectric properties with temperature (20–60°C) was also investigated. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 540–552, 2002     

Mechanical,thermal, and conductivity performances of novel thermoplastic natural rubber/graphene nanoplates/polyaniline composites

Conventional polymer blending has a shortcoming in conductivity characteristic. This research addresses the preparation of conductive thermoplastic natural rubber (TPNR) blends with graphene nanoplates (GNPs)/polyaniline (PANI) through melt blending using an internal mixer. The effect of PANI content (10, 20, 30, and 40 wt %) on the mechanical and thermal properties, thermal and electrical conductivities, and morphology observation of the TPNR/GNPs/PANI nanocomposites was investigated. The results showed that the tensile and impact properties as well as thermal conductivity of nanocomposite had improved with the incorporation of 3 wt % of GNPs and 20 wt % of PANI as compared to neat TPNR and reduced with further increase of the PANI content. It was observed that the GNPs and PANI acted as a critical component to improve the thermal stability and electrical conductivity of the TPNR/GNPs/PANI nanocomposites. The most improved conductivity of 5.22 E-5 S/cm was observed at 3 wt % GNPs and 40 wt % PANI. Variable-pressure scanning electron microscopy micrograph revealed the good interaction and distribution of GNPs and PANI within TPNR matrix at PANI loadings lower than 30 wt %. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48873.     

Mechanical and aging properties of cross‐linked ethylene propylene diene rubber / styrene butadiene rubber blends

The mechanical properties and aging characteristics of blends of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) were investigated with special reference to the effect of blend ratio and cross‐linking systems. Among the blends, the one with 80/20 EPDM/SBR has been found to exhibit the highest tensile, tear, and abrasion properties at ambient temperature. The observed changes in the mechanical properties of the blends have been correlated with the phase morphology, as attested by scanning electron micrographs (SEMs). The effects of three different cure systems, namely, sulfur (S), dicumyl peroxide (DCP), and a mixed system consisting of sulfur and peroxide (mixed) on the blend properties also were studied. The stress‐strain behavior, tensile strength, elongation at break, and tear strength of the blends were found to be better for the mixed system. The influence of fillers such as high‐abrasion furnace (HAF) black, general‐purpose furnace (GPF) black, silica, and clay on the mechanical properties of 90/10 EPDM/SBR blend was examined. The ozone and water aging studies also were conducted on the sulfur cured blends, to supplement the results from the mechanical properties investigation. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 2606–2621, 2004     

Effect of styrene–isoprene–styrene,styrene–butadiene–styrene,and styrene–butadiene–rubber on the mechanical,thermal, rheological,and morphological properties of polypropylene/polystyrene blends

The mechanical, thermal, rheological, and morphological properties of polypropylene (PP)/polystyrene (PS) blends compatibilized with styrene–isoprene–styrene (SIS), styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS), and styrene–butadiene–rubber (SBR) were studied. The incompatible PP and PS phases were effectively dispersed by the addition of SIS, SBS, and SBR as compatibilizers. The PP/PS blends were mechanically evaluated in terms of the impact strength, ductility, and tensile yield stress to determine the influence of the compatibilizers on the performance properties of these materials. SIS‐ and SBS‐compatibilized blends showed significantly improved impact strength and ductility in comparison with SBR‐compatibilized blends over the entire range of compatibilizer concentrations. Differential scanning calorimetry indicated compatibility between the components upon the addition of SIS, SBS, and SBR by the appearance of shifts in the melt peak of PP toward the melting range of PS. The melt viscosity and storage modulus of the blends depended on the composition, type, and amount of compatibilizer. Scanning electron microscopy images confirmed the compatibility between the PP and PS components in the presence of SIS, SBS, and SBR by showing finer phase domains. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 266–277, 2003     

Nanomodified fillers in chloroprene‐rubber‐compatibilized natural rubber/acrylonitrile–butadiene rubber blends

Because of the structural dissimilarity, natural rubber (NR) and acrylonitrile–butadiene rubber (NBR) are immiscible, and compatibilizers are used during their blending. Neoprene or chloroprene rubber (CR) has a polar chlorine part and a nonpolar hydrocarbon part. Also, it has many advantageous properties, such as oil resistance, toughness, a dynamic flex life, and adhesion capacity. Hence, it is not less scientific to use CR as a compatibilizer in the blending of NBR with NR. Because many fewer studies on the use of neoprene as a compatibilizer in NR–NBR blend preparation are available, efforts were made to prepare 20:80 NR–NBR blends with CR with the aim of studying the effect of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)‐coated nano calcium silicate along with nano N‐benzylimine aminothioformamide and stearic acid coated nano zinc oxide in the sulfur vulcanization of the blends. The optimum dosage of the compatibilizer was derived by the determination of the tensile properties, tear resistance, abrasion resistance, compressions set, and swelling values. The tensile strength, tear resistance, and abrasion resistance of the gum vulcanizates of the blend were improved by the compatibilizing action of CR up to 5 parts per hundred parts of rubber (phr). In the case of the filled vulcanizates, the tear resistance, 300% modulus, hardness, and abrasion resistance increased with increasing dosage of nano calcium silicate. The elongation at break percentage decreased as expected when there was an increase in the modulus. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the phase morphology of the blends. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Compatibilization of polypropylene/Poly(acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene) blends by polypropylene‐graft‐cardanol

The polypropylene‐graft‐cardanol (PP‐g‐cardanol) was prepared by reactive extrusion with polypropylene (PP) and natural renewable cardanol which could increase the interfacial energy of PP and inhibit the degradation of PP during the process of reactive extrusion and usage. In this article, PP‐g‐cardanol and polypropylene‐graft‐maleic anhydride (PP‐g‐MAH) were used as compatibilizers of the polypropylene (PP)/poly(acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene) (ABS) blends. PP/ABS (70/30, wt %) blends with PP‐g‐cardanol and PP‐g‐MAH were prepared by a corotating twin‐screw extruder. From the results of morphological studies, the droplet size of ABS was minimized to 1.93 and 2.01 μm when the content of PP‐g‐cardanol and PP‐g‐MAH up to 5 and 7 phr, respectively. The results of mechanical testing showed that the tensile strength, impact strength and flexural strength of PP/ABS (70/30) blends increase with the increasing of PP‐g‐cardanol content up to 5 phr. The complex viscosity of PP/ABS (70/30) blends with 5 phr PP‐g‐cardanol showed the highest value. Moreover, the change of impact strength and tensile strength of PP/ABS (70/30) blends were investigated by accelerated degradation testing. After 4 accelerated degradation cycles, the impact strength of the PP/ABS (70/30) blends with 5 phr PP‐g‐cardanol decrease less than 6%, but PP/ABS (70/30) blends with 5 phr PP‐g‐MAH and without compatibilizer decrease as much as 12% and 32%, respectively. The tensile strength of PP/ABS (70/30) blends has a similar tendency to that of impact strength. The above results indicated that PP‐g‐cardanol could be used as an impact modifier and a good compatibilizer, which also exhibited better stability performance during accelerated degradation testing. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41315.     

Boiling water aging of polycarbonate and polycarbonate/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene resin and polycarbonate/low‐density polyester blends

The effects of boiling water on the mechanical and thermal properties and morphologies of polycarbonate (PC), PC/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene resin (PC/ABS), and PC/low‐density polyester (PC/LDPE) blends (compositions of PC/ABS and PC/LDPE blends were 80/20) were studied. PC and the PC/ABS blend had a transition from ductile to brittle materials after boiling water aging. The PC/LDPE blend was more resistant to boiling water aging than PC and the PC/ABS blend. The thermal properties of glass‐transition temperature (T_g) and melting temperature (T_m) in PC and the blends were measured by DSC. The T_g of PC and PC in the PC/ABS and PC/LDPE blends decreased after aging. The T_g of the ABS component in the PC/ABS blend did not change after aging. The supersaturated water in PC clustered around impurities or air bubbles leading to the formation of microcracks, which was the primary reason for the ductile–brittle transition in PC, and the microcracks could not recover after PC was treated at 160°C for 6 h. The PC/ABS blend showed slightly higher resistance to boiling water than did PC. The highest resistance to boiling water of the PC/LDPE blend may be attributed to its special structural morphology. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 589–595, 2003     

Influences of trans‐polyoctylene rubber on the physical properties and phase morphology of natural rubber/acrylonitrile–butadiene rubber blends

The influence of trans‐polyoctylene rubber (TOR) on the mechanical properties, glass‐transition behavior, and phase morphology of natural rubber (NR)/acrylonitrile–butadiene rubber (NBR) blends was investigated. With an increased TOR level, hardness, tensile modulus, and resilience increased, whereas tensile strength and elongation at break tremendously decreased. According to differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis, there were two distinct glass‐transition temperatures for a 50/50 NR/NBR blend, indicating the strongly incompatible nature of the blend. When the TOR level was increased, the glass transition of NBR was strongly suppressed. NBR droplets of a few micrometers were uniformly dispersed in the continuous NR phases in the NR/NBR blends. When TOR was added to a 50/50 NR/NBR blend, TOR tended to be located in the NR phase and in some cases was positioned at the interfaces between the NBR and NR phases. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 125–134, 2002     

Morphology of nylon 6/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene blends compatibilized by a methyl methacrylate/maleic anhydride copolymer

The morphologies of nylon 6/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene blends compatibilized with a methyl methacrylate/maleic anhydride copolymer, with 3–20 wt % maleic anhydride, were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Some staining techniques were employed for identifying the various phases. The binary blends were immiscible and exhibited poor mechanical properties that stemmed from the unfavorable interactions among their molecular segments. This produced an unstable and coarse phase morphology and weak interfaces among the phases in the solid state. The presence of the copolymer in the blends clearly led to a more efficient dispersion of the acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene phase and consequently optimized Izod impact properties. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 3512–3518, 2003     

Mechanical properties and fracture behavior of blends of acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene copolymer and crystalline engineering plastics

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the possibility of mechanically recycling blends of ABS with minor amounts of semicrystalline engineering plastics, such as polyamide, poly(ethylene terephthalate), and poly(butylene terephthalate). Compatibilizers and a core–shell impact modifier were incorporated into the blends in order to improve the mechanical properties. The toughness values, measured by the J‐integral method, and the Charpy impact strength did not always exhibit consistent results, due to the significant difference in deformation rate and in fracture mechanism. The formation of co‐continuous structures in the blends were noted and discussed. The fibrillation in the fracture surface contributed to the toughness as measured by the J‐integral method. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 2435–2448, 2002     

Polyhydroxybutyrate/acrylonitrile‐g‐(ethylene‐co‐ propylene‐co‐diene)‐g‐styrene blends: Their morphology and thermal and mechanical behavior

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a biodegradable bacterial polyester emerging as a viable substitute for synthetic, semicrystalline, nonbiodegradable polymers. An elastomer terpolymer of acrylonitrile‐g‐(ethylene‐co‐propylene‐co‐diene)‐g‐styrene (AES) was blended with PHB in a batch mixer and in a twin‐screw extruder to improve the mechanical properties of PHB. The blends were characterized with differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and impact resistance measurements. Despite the narrow processing window of PHB, blends with AES could be prepared via the melting of the mixture without significant degradation of PHB. The blends were immiscible and composed of four phases: poly(ethylene‐co‐propylene‐co‐diene), poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile), amorphous PHB, and crystalline PHB. The crystallization of PHB in the blends was influenced by the AES content in different ways, depending on the processing conditions. A blend containing 30 wt % AES presented impact resistance comparable to that of high‐impact polystyrene, and the value was about 190% higher than that of pure PHB. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Effect of nanoparticles on the mechanical properties of acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene specimens fabricated by fused deposition modeling

Acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS) nanocomposite filaments with different inorganic nanofillers for fused deposition modeling (FDM) were prepared by melting extrusion and printed via a commercial FDM three‐dimensional printer. The effects of the nanoparticles on the mechanical strength, anisotropy, and thermal properties of the ABS specimens were evaluated. The performances of the virgin ABS samples manufactured by FDM and injection molding were also studied. The results show that the tensile strength (TS) of the pure ABS made by FDM was just up to 70% of the value obtained from the injection‐molded specimens. The mechanical anisotropy of the pure ABS samples was very evident when the building orientation was changed. However, we found that the addition of nanofillers significantly reduced the mechanical anisotropy and improved the mechanical strength and thermostability of the ABS samples fabricated by FDM technology. The TS and flexural strength of the ABS samples increased by 25.7 and 17.1%, respectively, with the introduction of nanomontmorillonite. The addition of nano calcium carbonate lowered the mechanical anisotropy of ABS from 42.1 to 23.9%. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 44470.     

Waste ground rubber tire powder/thermoplastic vulcanizate blends: Preparation,characterization, and compatibility

In this article, waste ground rubber tire (WGRT) powder was introduced into thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) to prepare the blends of WGRT powder/TPV. The mechanical, rheological, thermal aging, and dynamic properties of the blends were investigated with respect to the particle size and dosage of WGRT powder. The results showed that tensile strength, tear strength, elongation at break, and tensile permanent deformation of the blends increased with the decrease in WGRT particle size and decreased with the dosage of WGRT. The effects of different types and dosages of compatibilizers on mechanical and rheological properties of the blends were studied. The results showed that the compatibilizer PP‐g‐MAH could effectively improve the interfacial compatibility between WGRT and the TPV matrix to enhance the comprehensive properties of blends. The TPV/WGRT/PP‐g‐MAH blends obtained the best overall properties when prepared at the weight ratio 100/30/5. Rheological studies demonstrated that the WGRT/TPV blends represented lower apparent viscosity after PP‐g‐MAH were added, which means that processing performance of the blends was improved by PP‐g‐MAH. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the morphologies of the blends. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 39868.